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| Public Act 103-0788 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning conservation. | ||||
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly: | ||||
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Youth | ||||
and Young Adult Conservation Education Act. | ||||
Section 5. Declaration of intent. The General Assembly | ||||
finds that youth, representing all segments of society, | ||||
benefit from education and employment in the healthful outdoor | ||||
atmosphere of the State's park systems, recreational | ||||
facilities, and other public land and water areas and, through | ||||
those education and employment opportunities, will develop, | ||||
enhance, and maintain the natural resources of the State of | ||||
Illinois while gaining an understanding and appreciation of | ||||
the State's environment and heritage. The General Assembly, | ||||
therefore, creates this Act to establish the Youth and Young | ||||
Adult Conservation and Education Pilot Program to provide | ||||
education and employment opportunities for the youth and young | ||||
adults of this State to further the development and | ||||
maintenance of the natural resources by Illinois' youth and, | ||||
in so doing, to prepare them for the responsibility of | ||||
maintaining and managing these resources. | ||||
Section 10. Definitions. | ||||
As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise | ||
requires: | ||
"Department" means the Department of Natural Resources. | ||
"Program" means the Youth and Young Adult Conservation and | ||
Education Pilot Program created by this Act. | ||
Section 15. Cooperation. The Department shall have the | ||
full cooperation of the Illinois State Board of Education, the | ||
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois | ||
State Job Coordinating Council created by the Federal Job | ||
Training Partnership Act (Public Law 97-300), and the | ||
Department of Employment Security in carrying out the purposes | ||
of this Act. | ||
Section 20. Funding. Funding for the Program shall be from | ||
any State or federal funds or grants or other funding received | ||
by the Department. The Program is subject to appropriation by | ||
the General Assembly. | ||
Section 25. Youth and Young Adult Conservation and | ||
Education Pilot Program. | ||
(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall | ||
administer the Program. The Program may consist of any of the | ||
following: | ||
(1) allocation of grants to units of local government | ||
or non-profit entities to provide conservation education | ||
and employment opportunities for youth and young adults of | ||
this State; | ||
(2) development and implementation of conservation | ||
education or job training programs; and | ||
(3) internship opportunities with the Department for | ||
youth and young adults of this State. | ||
(b) The Program's education and employment opportunities | ||
shall be limited to citizens of this State who at the time of | ||
enrollment in the Program are 15 through 25 years of age. | ||
Grants under this Act are limited to units of local government | ||
and non-profit entities that are located in the State of | ||
Illinois and that provide conservation education and | ||
employment opportunities for youth and young adults of this | ||
State. | ||
(c) The Department shall designate suitable grant | ||
opportunities, projects, internships, and educational | ||
curriculum for the purposes of this Act. | ||
Grants, projects, internships, and curriculum so | ||
designated by the Department shall be for the purpose of: (1) | ||
development, enhancement, and maintenance of the natural | ||
resources of the State of Illinois, and offering related | ||
educational opportunities; (2) environmental stewardship and | ||
civic responsibility; (3) enhancement of public lands owned or | ||
leased by the Department or developing and enhancing projects | ||
or initiatives undertaken in whole or part by the Department; | ||
or (4) any combination of the purposes described in items (1) | ||
through (3). Such projects, internships and curriculum shall | ||
include improving the habitat of fauna and flora; improving | ||
utilization of conservation or recreation facilities and lands | ||
by the public; improving water quality; and any other project | ||
deemed by the Department to improve the environmental, | ||
economic, and recreational quality of the State's natural | ||
resources. | ||
All projects and internships designated by the Department | ||
shall be within a reasonable commuting time for each | ||
participant. In no circumstance shall interns be required to | ||
spend more than 1 1/2 hours of commuting time to a project or a | ||
designated area, but an intern may agree to spend more than 1 | ||
1/2 hours of commuting time to a project or a designated area. | ||
(c) Interns shall receive at least the standard minimum | ||
wage as set by the State of Illinois, when applicable, and | ||
shall work normal working hours as determined by the | ||
Department. The interns shall not be classified as employees | ||
of the State for purposes of contributions to the State | ||
Employees' Retirement System of Illinois or any other public | ||
employment retirement system of the State. | ||
(d) The Department may enter into contracts, | ||
intergovernmental agreements, grants, cooperative agreements, | ||
memoranda of understanding, or other instruments as necessary | ||
to implement the Program. | ||
(e) The Department shall adopt administrative rules | ||
pertaining to implementation, standards, criteria, and | ||
administration of the Program. | ||
Section 90. Repeal. This Act is repealed on June 30, 2029. | ||